Free The Death Ship of Dartmouth: (Knights Templar 21) by Michael Jecks Page B

crews.’
    ‘There was a Genoese ship, I think?’ Baldwin recalled vaguely.
    ‘Despenser attacked it in the Channel, yes. He slew the entire crew, and then stole the ship and cargo – five thousand gold pounds. And in all that time, the French would not allow him to use their ports. Ever since then, he has hated them – perhaps all the more so because they have allowed his enemy, Lord Mortimer, to take sanctuary there. Mortimer is still there, of course, somewhere. That has coloured the King’s attitude to the French as well. So all the while, Queen Isabella is growing more and more alienated from her husband. If she loved him once, it must be terribly hard for her to continue to feel any affection for him now. He looks on her as his enemy, as a spy in his own home. How could a woman of intelligence and spirit accept that for any time? I’ve heard rumours that the King might even take away her lands again, and force her to depend upon his charity. Is it any wonder that she seeks protection from another?’
    ‘And who might that be?’
    Stapledon hesitated. ‘Her brother Charles is the King of France, and he is a great warrior. He has not been beaten in many years. We can make no dent in his great hosts. Whenhe wishes, he overruns Edward’s lands in France and steals them from us.’
    ‘Again – what do you want me to do?’
    ‘In court I have grown to know the Queen well. She has some friends whom she trusts above all others. One of them is a good, noble lady, a woman with an estimable husband. She is honourable …’
    ‘Yes, yes, yes, she is good and honourable,’ Baldwin said a trifle testily.
    ‘I am sorry. This whole affair has thrown me into a turmoil. Well, this lady has done nothing to put herself into bad odour, but a knight fell in love with her. He thought she would be an easy conquest, I fear, and when she resisted him, he used force to violate her. And now he has left our Queen’s household to flee the land.’
    ‘I see.’
    ‘It would be marvellous news if he had left the country. I know that the Queen was distressed to hear that one of her countrymen – you see, to make matters worse, he was one of her kinsmen – could behave in such a way with a lady in her household. She would be glad to know that this wretch had fled.’
    ‘Could there be any doubt? Except I see in your eyes that there is more, Bishop, is there not? Why do you not merely capture this Frenchman and hold him?’
    Stapledon winced and looked away again. Baldwin could see his attention was concentrated on the great fish pond that lay a matter of a hundred yards away. There was a thin mist lying over the water and wraithlike tendrils spread from it to the grass. ‘I have heard conversations …’
    ‘Whose conversations? Come, Bishop! If you wish me to do your bidding, at the least you could ensure that I am fully aware of the problems and dangers!’
    Stapledon cast him a dark look. ‘It was young Despenser. He was discussing the Queen’s finances with the King when I walked past the room. She no longer exercises patronage, Baldwin, and she lives away from the King at all times.’
    ‘Why?’ Baldwin wondered.
    ‘This is entirely for your ears, you understand?’ Stapledon hissed. He held Baldwin’s eyes until the knight nodded. ‘Very well, then. The King is displeased with her because although all the nobles have been asked to swear an oath to Hugh Despenser, to “live and die” with him, she has refused to make the same commitment. Hugh Despenser is convinced that she intends to harm him. Now he has suggested that since her brother, the King of France, has raised the question of Gascony again …’
    ‘What question? He has taken it back and made a truce with us.’ Baldwin’s tone was carefully neutral. Last year, at St Sardos in the Agenais, part of King Edward II’s territory, the French had begun to build a fortified town. Edward’s Gascon subjects had attacked, killing a French sergeant, and Edward had